M&Ms 'Pause' Spokescandies Amid Controversy, But Many Suspect It's Merely A Super Bowl Ad Stunt

Incredibly, social media is still talking about the M&M spokescandies, who have been at the center of public discussion since Mars made small design and character tweaks to their cast of anthropomorphized candy mascots just over a year ago.

Since that time, many conservatives and other outspoken critics (particularly Tucker Carlson) have voiced their outrage over the "woke" new characters, centering most of the ire on the newly less horny Green M&M.

This morning, it appeared as though the company had given into the so-called "anti-woke mob" and announced a "pause" on the use of M&M's revamped spokescandies.

A message from M&M'S. pic.twitter.com/EMucEBTd9o

— M&M'S (@mmschocolate) January 23, 2023

"Now, we get it," M&Ms wrote in a statement posted on its official Twitter account. "Even a candy's shoes can be polarizing. Which was the last thing M&Ms wanted since we're all about bringing people together."

"Therefore, we have decided to take an indefinite pause from the spokescandies. In their place, we are proud to introduce a spokesperson everyone can agree on: the beloved Maya Rudolph."

The statement was apparently brain-melting for a massive swath of the internet who could not believe that M&M had apparently raised the white flag in the surreal culture war that broke out because they made the candies "less sexy" (to quote Tucker).

I am moving to a shack in the forest and am no longer participating in society.

— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) January 23, 2023

the M&M spokescandies have fallen https://t.co/9CyV0VXbrd

— JP (@jpbrammer) January 23, 2023

Conservatives cancel cultured cartoon women M&Ms because they triggered them.

Remember when conservatives were men and not children? https://t.co/roAJ2bNHZz

— Brianna Wu (@BriannaWu) January 23, 2023

If you are among those deeply invested in the continued success of the M&M candy characters, there may be hope. Many suspected that the "indefinite hiatus" announcement from M&M is a PR stunt and viral marketing ploy in anticipation of a set of ads that will run in the upcoming Super Bowl, likely featuring the anthropomorphic M&Ms overcoming their cancelation in a set of scenes with Maya Rudolph.

Planters pulled a similar stunt in 2020 when it murdered Mr. Peanut in an ad ahead of the Super Bowl, then introduced the much-maligned Baby Nut during the big game.

This is a work for sure. There’s gonna be a Super Bowl ad where we see all the M&Ms out of work and desperate to be rehired and/or protesting their firing. This is a Planters Baby Nut situation. https://t.co/R2Sudymrx4

— austin walker (@austin_walker) January 23, 2023

Gonna be hilarious when wingnuts spend three weeks shrieking "WE GOT 'EM" and then it turns out this is all some Super Bowl ad-related stunt. https://t.co/v05hSMdW21

— Gary Legum (@GaryLegum) January 23, 2023

M&Ms 1000% has an absolutely insane Super Bowl ad lined up where the spokescandies plan a heist with Maya Rudolph https://t.co/b0uOCKuMEt

— Wario Argento (@TheHallWay1) January 23, 2023

It seems few on social media are pleased about the announcement, whether the "paused spokescandies" statement is genuine or merely a marketing stunt. In either case, it forces many who would otherwise not care about M&M commercials to sacrifice valuable brain space considering the culture war surrounding a ubiquitous candy treat.